2300 block of Eastway Drive Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC, where the accidental shooting occurred Feb. 21.Photo:Google Maps
Google Maps
When Police OfficerCaitlin Figueroaarrived at the Charlotte, N.C., apartment Wednesday evening, she found a 3-year-old child bleeding from the head.
Investigators believe the child accidentally shot himself with his mother’s unsecured gun, Mike Allinger, a spokesman for the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Police Department, tells PEOPLE.
Police have narrowed down the time of the shooting to within six minutes, around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to the incident report.
Reporting Officer Caitlin Figueroa.Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police/Youtube
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police/Youtube
The child – whose name has been withheld from the report because of his age – was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the department’spress releaseWednesday night.
The 3-year-old waspronounced deadshortly after arrival.
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The mother was home with her son at the time of the shooting, according to Allinger, who notes that charges are pending in the case and could be filed as early as today.
North Carolina is one of 26 states with laws dealing with gun safety pertaining to child-access and/or secure storage, perEverytown for Gun Safety research.
Everytown
Allinger confirms to PEOPLE that the state has such a law regarding children’s access to guns, which only goes into effect if the child actuallyobtains the firearm.
“A tragedy like this should wake us all up on understanding the importance of the responsibility we all have,” Major Bret Balamucki said at a press conference outside the apartment complex Wednesday night.
He added: “Wherever you think you may have hidden that weapon – if it’s loaded and it doesn’t have a lock on it that the child can’t defeat – then potentially they could gain access to it."
The investigation remains ongoing.
source: people.com
